Every year I am reminded of how endearing Christmas songs are. There are countless iterations of the classic songs, and I'm sure we all have our favourites. And then there are new songs that are added to the genre every year, some more successful than others. Here are some of my favourite Christmas songs, new and old. I hope they put a smile on your face.
Sheree Plett singing her wonderful original song "Oh Emmanuel."
Phil Wickham adding his touch to a classic.
Dustin Kensrue captures the spirit of the season in "This Good Night is Still Everywhere."
Don't let the talking farm animals fool you. This song by mewithoutYou is a lyrical feast. Very few modern Christmas songs capture the meaning of Christmas and the Gospel this well and with this much fun and depth. I highly recommend looking up the lyrics to "A Stick, a Carrot & String."
There are many things we can ask ourselves after unthinkable events like the shooting in Connecticut yesterday. Can we base our society on humanism and good will and expect it to hold its own? Can we keep anything or anyone from being taken away from us? Do our rights really free us? Is there anything we can control?
I am sure many people are asking this simple question: why?
I would like to counter by offering a simple statement in response: why.
Not why?
Why. The reason why.
Everything that causes us to die inside, whether near or far, reminds us why Christmas is so important. It is important because no amount of good will, equality or tolerance will clean us of our sin; because our rights will never completely free us; because no amount of control over our lives will keep the chaos at bay; because the only thing in this life that we can claim as our own is our guilt.
Sin answers the question: why Christmas?
What Jesus did for us can never be covered up, taken away, murdered or undone. It is the gift of freedom from guilt and life eternal. That is why we celebrate Christmas.
This post is dedicated to Trevor von Kampen, who has a great taste in music.
I don't know where the term freak folk comes from but I really like it. It describes the kind of eclectic and experimental music that I find very fascinating.
Danielson (a.k.a. Danielson Famile)
Daniel Smith's quirky take on song writing and even quirkier voice is an acquired taste, but if it wasn't then it wouldn't be freak folk would it? While this large sibling band is not well known, its influence is strong. Among others, Danielson had a strong influence on a young, ambitious musician named Sufjan Stevens, who often played with the family before pursuing his own musical career. Ships is Danielson's weird masterpiece.
"Before our time, upon a noun there stood still a ship standing proud."
Neutral Milk Hotel
Neutral Milk Hotel released In an Aeroplane Over the Sea in 1998. It has since become a cult classic among indie and folk fans. Fusing raw acoustic passion, punk rock energy and abstract storytelling, Jeff Mangum crafts songs that are at once honest, catchy and lurid. It's quite an experience.
"I can't believe how strange it is to be anything at all."
mewithoutYou
In 2009 mewithoutYou wrote a collection of bizarre campfire songs/parables, many from the perspective of surprisingly pious and philosophical animals and vegetables. The album, named It's All Crazy! It's All False! It's All a Dream! It's Alright, is creative, humorous and profound, and would make Saint Francis of Assisi very proud. The influence of producer (and aforementioned) Daniel Smith is present, adding a playfulness not present in previous records. Three years later and it's still my favourite album of all time.
"The strawberry said to the tangerine
my face is red but our hats our green."
On a side note, if you look hard on youtube there are a few videos of Aaron Weiss (mewithoutYou) covering some Neutral Milk Hotel Songs. Talk about worlds colliding.
